Cavenagh Bridge

Construction

The bridge's structure was made of steel that was imported from Glasgow, Scotland, and made by P. & W. MacLellan.^[7] J. Cazalas was one of two tenders who supplied the wood needed in Cavenagh Bridge's construction.^[8] During the construction in April 1869, frequent interruptions and risks came from tongkangs hitting the construction site. To prevent this issue, a portion of the river by the site was closed, leaving two gaps around the cofferdam that only boats weighing less than two coyans could pass through.^[9]

In May, the bridge's north suspension chains were set up. Some chain links were found to be shorter by half a foot and underwent extension at Cazalas's foundry. The bridge's south turrets were built six feet taller than the level of the girder.^[10] In June, the south side's turrets were complete and had their saddles built; the turrets were made of granite. The installation of the iron was moving slowly, as the chain links were still undergoing expansion.^[11] By July, the iron structure of the bridge was complete, which included its four anchors. The piles and wedges supporting the main and cross girders were removed, and the river's navigation was restored.^[12] The bridge was one of the last projects built with Indian convict labour.^[13]

Tenders to lay the bridge's timber flooring were announced in July,^[12] and the bridge was expected to finish by mid-September 1869.^[14] On 25 September, it was reported that half the carriageway had been laid, the side channels for removing surface water fixed, and the footways's plank flooring completed. In preparation of Cavenagh Bridge's completion, a by-law was submitted that would direct traffic across the bridge.^[15] By October the bridge had been completed, but its opening was delayed for the arrival of the Duke of England, who was to officiate its opening. In the meantime, a wooden footbridge – that crossed Bonham Street – substituted foot traffic crossing the river.^[16] Cavenagh Bridge cost around $80,000^[17] to $90,000.^[18]

Opening and subsequent developments

Cavenagh Bridge was opened in November 1869 by the Municipal Commission in an "unostentatious" ceremony; the commissioners celebrated by drinking champagne. The Duke of Edinburgh's visit had been delayed and he was unable to officiate the opening.^[19] However, The Straits Times reported that larger cargo boats were unable to pass under during high tide or periods of rain due to a lack of clearance between the river and the bridge. Furthermore, Cavenagh's name was misspelt on his coat of arms, which hung on either side of the bridge.^[17] His name was eventually corrected.^[20]

In February 1870, work on removing the piles and clay of the cofferdam was still underway, as work could only be done during periods of low tide.^[21] In April, there was some public contention over the cost of the bridge and the location. Initially, a temporary bridge crossed the river at Market Street and Bonham Street which served many, but when Cavenagh Bridge was being planned it was decided to be built at Flint Street, shifted from Bonham. Due to this, access to government offices from the godowns became considerably further, with only godowns built nearby Cavenagh benefiting from its position. European and Chinese traders in the Boat Quay, Market Street, Malacca Street, and Telok Ayer areas were forced to take the longer route offered by Cavenagh instead of the original Bonham Street route. Therefore, the commissioners were criticised for not taking in the public's opinion before spending $90,000 on Cavenagh Bridge.^[18]

Following the opening of Coleman and Ord Bridge and the widening of Elgin Bridge in 1886, it was suggested that Cavenagh Bridge be demolished and replaced.^[22] By the start of the 20th-century, traffic across Cavenagh Bridge had worsened to a point where it was necessary to construct a new bridge to ease the congestion; the widening of Battery Road was a factor in the increasing congestion. In 1901, the Singapore River Commission looked into widening Cavenagh Bridge or creating a new bridge, with the Commission opting for the latter. In 1910, the new bridge – called Anderson Bridge – was completed, with traffic being redirected across it. Cavenagh Bridge then mostly served pedestrian and rikisha traffic.^[23][24] A sign was further placed that prohibited horses, cattle, and vehicles from passing that weighed more than 3 cwt (hundredweight); this sign still stands to this day.^[20]

In 1913, motor traffic across Cavenagh Bridge was officially prohibited by the Municipal Commission,^[25] however it was later reported that the rule was not being enforced.^[26] In 1936, Cavenagh Bridge was in poor condition as its carriageway had deteriorated and showed the rusted iron plates underneath, prompting restoration.^[27][28] Repairs began in October 1936 and cost $15,760.50.^[29][30] The repairs were done by the Singapore Harbour Board and included laying a new concrete decking for the bridge. Its two main girders were replaced as they had corroded.^[31] The bridge's web plates and four towers were also replaced. The repair works were completed sometime in November 1937.^[32] In 1972, Cavenagh Bridge was selected for national preservation.^[20] The sign standing at the bridge prohibiting vehicles and animals from passing was retained as a "historic relic" in 1976 by the Ministry of National Development.^[33]

In 1984, during the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit project, Cavenagh Bridge had steel supports in place to protect against tunnelling works under the nearby Empress Place Building.^[34] In 1986, minister for national development Teh Cheang Wan announced that Cavenagh Bridge was among eight bridges that would be refurbished.^[35] The following year, the bridge underwent S$1.2 million in repair works and was reopened by minister of state for national development Lee Boon Yang.^[36] In 1993, lighting was installed on four bridges, including Cavenagh, at a cost of S$1 million by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board.^[37]

In March 2008, the Kyoto Jazz Massive held a live performance on Cavenagh Bridge.^[38] Later in November, the bridge was selected for conservation as part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's expanded conservation programme.^[39] In August 2019, deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the Padang and the Singapore River Bridges would be made national monuments; the Singapore River Bridges were collectively made up of Cavenagh, Anderson, and Elgin Bridges.^[40][41] On 15 October 2019, the National Heritage Board (NHB) officially gazetted the Singapore River Bridges as the 73rd national monument of Singapore.^[42][5]